Weight limits coming to Pa. bridges, senators told

HARRISBURG (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett’s top transportation adviser is warning that about 1,000 bridges in Pennsylvania will be slapped with additional weight restrictions in the coming months as a consequence of declining funding for repairs.

Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch (‘SHOKE) told the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday that the policy is particularly necessary given the Legislature’s failure to approve higher gas taxes and motorist fees.

Schoch says the rising cost to fund the state police and rising vehicle fuel efficiency is hurting revenue from motor vehicles. He says 2,200 state- and locally-owned bridges are candidates for new weight restrictions and about half will start seeing new weight restrictions in August.

He says that means potentially longer routes and commutes for haulers, school buses and emergency vehicles.